American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Certification Practice Test

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According to the ROME metabolic criteria, how is acidosis defined?

  1. pH is up, pCO2 is up

  2. pH is down, pCO2 is up

  3. pH is down, pCO2 is down

  4. pH is up, pCO2 is down

The correct answer is: pH is down, pCO2 is up

In the context of the ROME metabolic criteria, acidosis is characterized by a decrease in blood pH, which indicates an increase in acidity. When evaluating respiratory acidosis specifically, this decrease in pH is accompanied by an increase in pCO2, as the body retains carbon dioxide leading to a higher concentration of carbonic acid in the blood. Thus, when pH levels drop and pCO2 levels rise, this combination confirms the presence of acidosis. This relation is central to understanding how respiratory functions impact acid-base balance within the body and highlights the importance of evaluating both parameters when diagnosing acid-base disorders. In contrast, other combinations of pH and pCO2 levels reflect either a normal physiological state or indicate alkalosis rather than acidosis, which is why they do not define the condition accurately within the ROME criteria framework.

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